Karan Johar, along with co-host Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan, took a dig at Kangana Ranaut and her stand against nepotism during IIFA Awards 2017, recently.

Image: Yogen Shah

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The ghost of nepotism is haunting Karan Johar once again. After the much-controversial episode with Kangana Ranaut where the actress declared him the 'flag bearer of nepotism', the filmmaker has been explaining the topic time and again, in his own way. Karan once again put his hand into the snake's hole while hosting IIFA, when along with co-host Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan he chanted "Nepotism Rocks!" taking a dig at the actress.

However, after severe backlash, Karan has now come out to explain his actions and stand on Nepotism once again. In an interview given to NDTV, the filmmaker said, "Of course I don't believe that 'nepotism rocks'. If anything that rocks, it's your talent, hard work and conviction. It's the energy you bring to your job. What we said was meant to be a joke, which I think has been misplaced, misunderstood and I think it went wrong. I regret it."

Karan, Saif and Varun made fun of their 'filmy roots' and openly dissed Kangana on the stage of IIFA 2017 where Varun received Best Actor in Comic Role. On the entire act, Karan said, "The idea of that joke was entirely mine, so I take the onus of the idea of what we said. And I think we went a bit too far with the Kangana mention,"

The filmmaker feels regretful for making a joke about his personal feeling about Kangana's comment and is regretful. He added, "No matter what I say or feel about my issues with what Kangana said on my talk show Koffee With Karan, I think I was raised to be a dignified, a chivalrous, and a decent person. That's the upbringing that I was given and I feel that I failed on those accounts. I felt that no matter what my thoughts or personal issues on this, I should not have repeatedly brought that up. For that, I'm deeply regretful."

He further elaborated that the act was done in good humour and their intention was not to hurt anyone.

Elaborating further on the topic of Nepotism, Karan feels that it's time to close the topic. "I want to once and for all say and close this chapter after this and subsequently I will not speak about nepotism nor Kangana because it would be distrustful for her and it would be ungrateful at my end, which I've already been. Nepotism is easy access, nobody can deny that, but what you do with that access is what moulds you into a professional," he said.

Earlier, Varun had also apologised for the act. The young actor took to Twitter and wrote, " I express my apology and regret .. I am extremely sorry if I have offended or hurt anyone with that act.. "

Kangana Ranaut has been at the receiving end after raising the issue of Nepotism in Bollywood. The actress wasn't present at IIFA 2017, where the entire act took place.